What is the best method for keeping SW tanks at a constant, stable temperature ?

[saveourship]

I guess it's a good thing I decided to let the tank cycle a bit longer and not add livestock yet. I've noticed when getting home from work, my tank temp is up to 83.5 and after running the window air conditioner for a couple hours it gets to 81.

What's a good, cost efficient way to keep water temperature stable and a constant 80 ?

Thanks!

 

[INNEED]

buy a small clip on fan should keep it at 80

 

[saveourship]

buy a small clip on fan should keep it at 80

that's it? cool. I have a BC14, could leaving the access door open have the same affect ?

 

[INNEED]

i think the bc14 is a bit to small clip on fan would work much better only 15 bucks

 

[saveourship]

i think the bc14 is a bit to small clip on fan would work much better only 15 bucks

off to duane reed during lunch! thanks, bud!

 

[Lunareclipse]

central heating and air.

 

[daisy]

Between keeping the apartment under 80 (closer to 75) and keeping a fan on each tank, my tanks stay between 77 and 83 (on super hot days when I forget to keep the AC on) I have been told not to worry too too much if they even get up to 84 for a little while, but at that point, make sure the AC is on and the fans are unobstructed. If I had a chiller, I could keep the tank at a consistent 79 or whatever, but I don't have one, and my tank is doing okay.

The animals in our tanks can handle slow fluctuations within a particular range. Check out Christopher Jury's articles in Reef Magazine on just this very topic!

 

[Levito]

It's a closed lid, right? Temps are harder since there's nowhere for the heat to easily escape to. You'll need a way to keep it more open, maybe flip the lid back and get a screen on the opening (if you have, or plan to have any jumpers). I have a RSM 250, and with no central air, I chose to go with the chiller because I didn't want to leave the lid cracked open, I have no sump to blow a fan across, and I couldn't keep temp below 85 even with a cooled room.
It's up to you, but I like the piece of mind knowing my tank is between 77 & 79 all year round, day & night.

 

[saveourship]

Between keeping the apartment under 80 (closer to 75) and keeping a fan on each tank, my tanks stay between 77 and 83 (on super hot days when I forget to keep the AC on) I have been told not to worry too too much if they even get up to 84 for a little while, but at that point, make sure the AC is on and the fans are unobstructed. If I had a chiller, I could keep the tank at a consistent 79 or whatever, but I don't have one, and my tank is doing okay.

The animals in our tanks can handle slow fluctuations within a particular range. Check out Christopher Jury's articles in Reef Magazine on just this very topic!

We keep the window ac on energy saver @ 74 so we keep a comfortable temp in the apartment. Maybe we'll raise the temp to 75 or 76 to not break the bank in utility bills and leave it on energy save during the day. I tried looking for Jury's article, no luck. Maybe a link ?


I see you're from Yonkers, we just moved from Fleetwood to Staten Island (born and raised in W/chester here)

 

[saveourship]

It's a closed lid, right? Temps are harder since there's nowhere for the heat to easily escape to. You'll need a way to keep it more open, maybe flip the lid back and get a screen on the opening (if you have, or plan to have any jumpers). I have a RSM 250, and with no central air, I chose to go with the chiller because I didn't want to leave the lid cracked open, I have no sump to blow a fan across, and I couldn't keep temp below 85 even with a cooled room.
It's up to you, but I like the piece of mind knowing my tank is between 77 & 79 all year round, day & night.

I looked at chiller's but can't justify spending $300 on a chiller when my tank, stand and supplies didnt even break $200. It's a biocube 14, once we buy the house it's a different story- then I'd like a 75 gallon . I figure it's safe to leave the feeding lid open just enough to allow for extra air flow and pick up a piece of plastic screen to prevent jumping.

 

[daisy]

I do the screen over my tank b/c I have lots of wrasses.

I do the moneysaver thing on my AC and it keeps the tank below 82 all summer. I even turn off the AC and open windows at night if it's going to get down below 75 at night (if it's not too humid...)

Here is the link to the back issues of the magazine. from here, you should be able to see his articles "The Great Temperature Debate." So far there have been three installments. The fourth will be published this summer.

http://www.reefsmagazine.com/mag.php?do=issueindex

Best!

Tahl

 

[kalapnath]

you dont have to pay 300 bucks here's one used for 180

 

[richardhmc]

Last year my tank during the summer went from 78 to 84 everyday up and down for a few weeks. Miraculously everything survived. I put a fan on it and it actually kept the tank at around 82 degrees during the peak of the day.

 

[Brando457]

My tank was hitting 84 temperatures and then j added a small clip on fan. Now it idles around 80-81. At 84 I lost only one acan coral and everything else is perfectly fine.


Sent from my iPhone using Reefs

 

[SIReefer]

Heater - Controller - Chiller

 

[kenconnect]

buy a small clip on fan should keep it at 80

+ 1

 

[LatinP]

Last year my tank during the summer went from 78 to 84 everyday up and down for a few weeks. Miraculously everything survived. I put a fan on it and it actually kept the tank at around 82 degrees during the peak of the day.

Fish we're right at home, temp swings like that everyday in nature. Go to a reef at 3am and again at 3pm you'll prob be right around your low and high.

 

[cybermeez]

I have a 10 and 14 gallon BC. I leave the little feeding door open on both whenever the lights are on. The 14 has a couple of gobies and some zoas. The 10 is my macro algae grow out tank. I converted the 14's lights to LED because the CF was just too hot. I no longer have a heat problem with that tank, but I still leave the door open just to be safe.

If you go with the fan option, you'll need to stay on top of evaporation. It happens very quickly in a small tank and you may have to top it off once a day to keep water parameters stable.